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Commencement will continue through Sunday at Viejas Arena.

Those graduating Friday include students in the College of Arts and Letters and the College of Health and Human Services, according to SDSU. Students in the International Business program held a separate ceremony.

"I'm very excited, it's the beginning of your life, and it's new and different," a female graduate told a local media outlet.

Three ceremonies on Saturday will honor students in the colleges of Business Administration, Professional Studies and Fine Arts, and Sciences.

The weekend concludes with the colleges of Engineering and Education.

Leonard Lavin, the 92-year-old founder of beauty products manufacturer Alberto-Culver who supports SDSU business programs, and L. Robert Payne, the San Diego businessman whose name is on the school's hospitality program, will receive honorary degrees.

"Their vision, work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit provide sterling examples for our students to emulate," SDSU President Elliot Hirshman said. "We are grateful for their support of our students, faculty and staff and their commitment to advancing San Diego State University as a major public research university."

SDSU spokeswoman Gina Jacobs said the most popular majors of graduates are psychology, with about 500 students, criminal justice, about 300, and liberal arts, about 225.

Commencement also began Friday for around 2,600 students at Cal State San Marcos, the largest class in the school's 17-year history. Graduation at CSUSM will continue Saturday.

About 450 students are expected to take part in a graduation ceremony at Palomar College, also in San Marcos, at 5 p.m. In all, an estimated 2,000 students will receive Associate of Arts degrees.

San Diego Mesa College will hold its commencement on Saturday.